Mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials

ABSTRACT

The present invention consists of a mechanism of two conveyor belts with different lengths, one larger and one smaller, which are mounted on a mobile base with dimensions similar to a conventional cargo transport truck&#39;s trailer; to be used in the loading and unloading of granulated raw materials, preferably silica sand, in transporting trailers of said feedstock, and in which the belt with a greater length is the transporting belt and the one with the shorter length acts as a connecting belt between the longer one and a trailer. This invention has been created in response to the need of hermetically connecting a raw materials-transporting trailer to a container, having specific modifications that allow the clean and waste-free movement of raw materials.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been created in response to the need of hermetically connecting a raw materials-transporting trailer to a container, having specific modifications that allow the clean and waste-free movement of raw materials, preferably silica sand of different sizes.

BACKGROUND

There is knowledge about similar technologies, which nonetheless present notorious differences both in form and function to the present invention. However, when compared to the present invention, the aforementioned technologies are differentiated from in that they are shorter, narrower and takes longer to move the raw materials, which endows it with an inferior performance.

Secondly, said band must be loaded onto a platform for its transportation and must be unloaded from it upon arrival to destination for it to operate, while the present invention is coupled to the trailer whose content it will receive. Thirdly, the way in which the telescopic belt discharges into the container is different, given that in the present device, the belt is coupled in one end to the raw materials', preferably silica sand, container's escape nozzle thus allowing for a cleaner unloading of said feedstock; while in the referred example, the sand is evacuated at high speeds and lands on the container's hatch. Finally, the sheathing that's placed at the point of contact between the chute and the smaller belt prevents the production of dust, a function that does not exist in conventional models.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials in their expanded and contracted modes.

FIG. 3 is an internal view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials' action mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an internal side view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials' action mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an internal side view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials' action mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the connection nozzle of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the primary control zone of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the connecting belt.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 13 is a lower view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 14 is an upper view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 15 is an upper isometric view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials.

FIG. 16 is a lateral isometric view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials in their contracted mode.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials in their contracted mode.

FIG. 18 is a lateral isometric view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials in their contracted mode.

FIG. 19 is an upper view of the mechanical conveyor belts for granulated raw materials in their contracted mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of a mechanism of two conveyor belts with different lengths, one larger (1) and one smaller (2), which are mounted on a mobile base (3) and has dimensions similar to a conventional cargo transport truck's trailer; to be used in the loading and unloading of granulated raw materials, preferably silica sand, in transporting trailers of said feedstock. In said invention, there is a longer-length conveyor belt, hereinafter called transporting belt (1), and a shorter-length one, that works as a connecting belt (2) between the larger belt and a trailer, as is illustrated in FIG. 1.

As it is illustrated in FIG. 2, the longer belt has a telescopic function, which is to say it extends and contracts lengthwise, is designed to carry granulated raw materials from a specialized trailer to a container. Said band is fitted with a protective structure (4), illustrated in FIG. 1, that when coupled to said belt forms a structure similar to a tunnel, which avoids contact between the feedstock and the exterior and prevents the production of dust during the transfer of said feedstock.

This transporting belt is a continuous belt in whose surface there is a texturized pattern, which allows for a better transfer of the raw material. As it is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the belt is drawn by friction between a plurality of internal drums, one (5) actuated by the central engine (6), while the others (7), being preferably five, are free-rolling, with no actuating mechanism, and whose function is to serve as a return point for the belt. The belt is fitted with a plurality of rollers, preferably two, in its middle part (8), that allow it to extend and contract according to the case, which support it and prevent it from losing its shape. The belt's width is, preferably of but not limited to, 18 inches, and it is made of a material capable of withstanding the load, tensions and other wearing-down forces that act upon it, said material being preferably, but not limited to, a synthetic plastic fabric.

The transporting belt (1) and its protective structure (4) can be divided into three sections, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, which can be extended and contracted on their own longitudinal axis. In its contracted mode, the transporting belt is fitted to the dimensions of the mobile base (3) by way of an internal roller chain for its relocation from one place to another. Its three extension phases exist so that the belt can connect to a plurality of, preferably three, specialized containers (9), as is illustrated in FIG. 6, in order to begin the transfer of feedstock. Said extension and contraction movement is owed to a roller chain (10). There are two hydraulic jacks (11) located in the frontal part of the mobile base (3) and leveled with the distal end of the first of these sections, which allow the transporting belt (1) to be tilted to a maximum preferred inclination of 28 degrees relative to the ground, as well as to relocate it so as to be positioned over the mobile base.

As is illustrated in FIG. 7, in its distal end, which connects with the container, the transporting belt is fitted with a completely airtight connection nozzle (12), which has an extension (13), preferably made of plastic in the shape of a cylinder, that allows it to be precisely adjusted to the container and initiate discharge of the raw material that is carried by the larger belt. This results in a clean and wasteless product discharge, prevents the material's exposition to the elements and the liberation of dust to the surrounding environment, which otherwise represents a significant risk to workers, the surrounding infrastructure and community.

As is illustrated in FIG. 7, there is a small video camera (14) placed just before the connection nozzle (12) that transmits its real-time feed to a monitor (15) placed in the primary control zone (16) that is illustrated in FIG. 8, thus allowing the belt to be directed in order to correctly connect it with the desired container and begin the discharge. This primary control zone is located, preferably, in the middle of the mobile base's right side, and by means of different levers, all mechanisms and movements the transporting belt is fitted with, as well as those found on the mobile base and its pneumatic stabilizers are actuated. Said movements are the elevation, descent, longitudinal contraction and expansion of the transporting belt, as well as the lateral, advancing and backward movements of the mobile base's pneumatic stabilizing arms. This allows the positioning of the transporting belt in a precise manner on the connection line in order to begin the unloading of one of the containers coupled to it. The primary control zone is fitted with pressure (18) and central engine temperature (19) gauges. Additionally, it also has an emergency button (20), preferably red in color, that works as a switch capable of cutting energy from the engine to the mobile base. There is also a pressure release button (21), preferably yellow in color, whose function is to free the pressure on the transporting belt's hydraulic jacks (11) and that, when pressed, allows the hydraulic jack's valves to liberate the pressure withheld by them.

There is another, shorter length, belt located on the opposite direction to the telescopic belt's longitudinal extension, that for this description's effects has been named as receiving belt and that also has a protective covering (22), as is illustrated in FIG. 9. This second belt is used as a connection between the trailer and the telescopic belt (1). By means of an array of, preferably two, small motorized rails (22) that are connected to the engine (6) located in the mobile base (3) of the connecting belt, said belt is slid, actuated from the primary control zone (16), towards the frontal part of the transporting belt, being relocated over this last belt, thus positioned in its transport position, and is slid in the contrary direction to be placed into its working position, in which it acts as a connection between the trailer bearing the feedstock of interest and the transporting belt. When totally slid in a distal manner and thus positioned in its working mode, the connecting belt is left on a free axis, allowing it to be moved in a lateral fashion.

As is illustrated in FIG. 10, in its distal end, the connecting belt is fitted with a rectangular-shaped mechanism that can be contracted and extended, that to the effects of the present description we will call receiving chute (24), by means of two metallic gear chains (25), one on each side of the mechanism, actuated from the secondary control zone (26) located in the middle part of the driver's side of the connecting belt and obtaining their energy from the central engine (6) located in the mobile base (3); which, taken together with the free axis previously mentioned, allows a greater belt mobility. There is a receiving nozzled shaped like a grate (27) and located on top of said mechanism, similar in size to the trailer's own feedstock discharge nozzle. In its preferred embodiment, the sizes of these nozzles are of 41×40 inches, without these dimensions being limitative in any way. This receiving nozzle is fitted with a net (28) and small, preferably metallic, sheets (29) on each side of said nozzle, whose function is to prevent feedstock waste, given that being over the receiving nozzle's level; they help maintain said feedstock on the connecting belt. Said connecting belt, which transports the feedstock to the transporting belt, starts running from this receiving nozzle. There is a pair of hydraulic jacks (30) which are perpendicular to the ground that elevate and lower the receiving chute as necessary in order to move it in a lateral fashion. There is also a pair of tires (31) located in the proximal part of the receiving chute and allow its lateral movements. All lateral, elevation and lowering movements of the hydraulic jacks associated to the receiving chute, as well as the connecting belt's tires are controlled in their totality by means of a secondary control zone (26) that is located on the middle part of the driver's side of said belt, and in which there is a plurality of levers (32), each of which enacts one of the aforementioned movements.

The belt's mobile base (3), similar in size to a conventional trailer, is equipped with two wheeled stabilizers (33) located in its frontal part, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9, having the kingpin (34), used to hook the base to a truck for its transportation, as a reference. Said stabilizers are controlled from the primary control zone (16) and are bent towards the rear side of the base, being this their belt transport position. As is illustrated in FIG. 13, the stabilizers are deployed in opposite directions until they reach a 90-degree angle relative to the mobile base (3) in working mode, being this the point in which the belt can move itself at the working site. The stabilizers' wheels (35) endow the mobile base (3) with a frontal, rearward and lateral movement capacity by means of hydraulic jacks (36) that allow for a rotation of up to 180 degrees in the wheels, having the fully extended stabilizers as their x-axis. The belt's functioning is propelled in its totality by a hydraulic engine (6) that is located at the center of the mobile base, and provides energy to the belts. There is a deposit (37) that stores the oil for the belt's hydraulic jacks located next to the central engine (6). 

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A mobile conveyor, comprising: a base portion having a plurality of wheels and a longitudinal axis; a first conveyor pivotably coupled to the base portion, the first conveyor comprising: a first conveyor belt; a bottom section; a middle section that extends telescopically from the bottom section; and a top section that extends telescopically from the middle section, wherein the middle and top sections are configured to extend via actuation of a chain; and a second conveyor slidably and rotatably coupled to the bottom section of the first conveyor, the second conveyor comprising: a receiving belt configured to be positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base portion when in an operational position; and a transfer belt positioned to receive granular material from the receiving belt and transfer the granular material to the first conveyor, wherein the second conveyor is configured to transition between a transport position and an operational position by sliding along a rail associated with the bottom section of the first conveyor.
 16. The mobile conveyor of claim 15, wherein the second conveyor comprises at least two motorized wheels that, when actuated with the second conveyor in the operational position, cause the second conveyor to rotate about a coupling between the second conveyor and the first conveyor.
 17. The mobile conveyor of claim 15, further comprising a protective structure surrounding the first conveyor belt and configured to extend telescopically with the first conveyor.
 18. The mobile conveyor of claim 17, the protective structure comprising: a bottom protective portion surrounding the bottom section of the first conveyor; a middle protective portion surrounding the middle section of the first conveyor and sized to fit within the bottom protection portion when the first conveyor is in a retracted position; a top protective portion surrounding the top section of the first conveyor and sized to fit within both the middle protective portion and bottom protective portion when the first conveyor is in a retracted position.
 19. The mobile conveyor of claim 15, wherein the second conveyor comprises a flexible connector positioned at a distal end of the transfer belt and oriented to redirect granular material downward to the first conveyor belt.
 20. The mobile conveyor of claim 15, wherein the first conveyor comprises a flexible nozzle positioned at a distal end of the first conveyor belt and oriented to redirect granular material downward to a storage container.
 21. The mobile conveyor of claim 20, wherein the first conveyor comprises a video camera mounted proximate to the flexible nozzle and oriented to capture video feed of the nozzle.
 22. The mobile conveyor of claim 21, further comprising a display mounted on the mobile conveyor that displayed the video feed captured by the video camera.
 23. The mobile conveyor of claim 21, wherein the first conveyor is configured to retract to a contracted mode via operation of an internal roller chain.
 24. The mobile conveyor of claim 23, wherein when the first conveyor is in the contracted mode, a footprint defined by the outer dimensions of the first conveyor fits within a footprint defined by the outer dimensions of the base portion.
 25. The mobile conveyor of claim 15, wherein when the second conveyor is configured to be positioned in a transport position by sliding the second conveyor along the rail associated with the bottom section of the first conveyor toward the distal end of the first conveyor.
 26. The mobile conveyor of claim 25, wherein when the second conveyor is positioned in the transport position, a footprint defined by the outer dimensions of the second conveyor fits within a footprint defined by the outer dimensions of the base portion.
 27. The mobile conveyor of claim 15, further comprising two pivot arms, each pivot arm being associated with a wheel.
 28. The mobile conveyor of claim 27, wherein each pivot arm is coupled to an actuator configured to transition the pivot arm between a transport position and an operational position.
 29. The mobile conveyor of claim 28, wherein the pivot arms are configured to be positioned in a transport position wherein the pivot arms are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base portion.
 30. The mobile conveyor of claim 28, wherein the pivot arms are configured to be positioned in an operational position wherein the pivot arms are extended substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base portion.
 31. The mobile conveyor of claim 28, wherein the actuators coupled to the pivot arms are controlled by a single control mechanism mounted on the mobile conveyor.
 32. The mobile conveyor of claim 27, wherein each wheel is mechanically coupled to an electric motor.
 33. The mobile conveyor of claim 15, wherein a footprint defined by the outer dimensions of the mobile conveyor, when provided in a transport position, is equal to or smaller than the footprint of a standard intermodal trailer.
 34. The mobile conveyor of claim 15, wherein the mobile conveyor is configured to be towed on a roadway by a truck. 